Spatial trends in tidal flat shape and associated environmental parameters in South San Francisco Bay

Journal of Coastal Research
By: , and 

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Abstract

Spatial trends in the shape of profiles of South San Francisco Bay (SSFB) tidal flats are examined using bathymetric and lidar data collected in 2004 and 2005. Eigenfunction analysis reveals a dominant mode of morphologic variability related to the degree of convexity or concavity in the cross-shore profileindicative of (i) depositional, tidally dominant or (ii) erosional, wave impacted conditions. Two contrasting areas of characteristic shapenorth or south of a constriction in estuary width located near the Dumbarton Bridgeare recognized. This pattern of increasing or decreasing convexity in the inner or outer estuary is correlated to spatial variability in external and internal environmental parameters, and observational results are found to be largely consistent with theoretical expectations. Tidal flat convexity in SSFB is observed to increase (in decreasing order of significance) in response to increased deposition, increased tidal range, decreased fetch length, decreased sediment grain size, and decreased tidal flat width. ?? 2010 Coastal Education and Research Foundation.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Spatial trends in tidal flat shape and associated environmental parameters in South San Francisco Bay
Series title Journal of Coastal Research
DOI 10.2112/08-1094.1
Volume 26
Issue 2
Year Published 2010
Language English
Contributing office(s) San Francisco Bay-Delta, Pacific Regional Director's Office
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Journal of Coastal Research
First page 342
Last page 349
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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